Purpose
Maryland Library Association Honorary Membership recognizes a lifetime of significant contributions to libraries and librarianship.
Eligibility
Any Maryland resident is eligible for MLA Honorary Membership.
Criteria
The recipient of MLA Honorary Membership will have met these criteria:
- Provided sustained, effective and significant contributions to librarianship over the recipient’s lifetime on the state and/or national level, including contributions to libraries, library associations, library education and/or library advocacy
- Provided sustained, effective and significant contributions to librarianship based on the recipient’s achievements as an individual rather than as the representative of an organization, association or group of individuals
- Demonstrated sustained commitment to the mission, values and ethics of the Maryland Library Association
The Chair of the Awards Committee will forward the name of the Honorary Membership recipient to the MLA Executive Director to verify activities and contributions prior to submission to the MLA Executive Board.
Award Recipients: 1949 - Present
- 2026 - John Taube
- 2025 - Debby Bennett / Kerry O'Donnell
- 2024 - John Venditta
- 2023 - Michael Gannon
- 2022 - Wesley Wilson
- 2021 - Darrell Batson
- 2020 - Mary Baykan
- 2019 - Lynn Wheeler
- 2018 - Kathleen Tease
- 2017 - Carla Hayden
- 2016 - Dolores Maminski / Kathleen Reif
- 2015 - Evelyn Tchiyuka / Claudia Sumler
- 2014 - No Award
- 2013 - Audra Caplan
- 2012 - George A. Sands
- 2011 - Stephen P. LaBash
- 2010 - No Award
- 2009 - Judith F. Krug *
- 2008 - No Award
- 2007 - No Award
- 2006 - No Award
- 2005 - No Award
- 2004 - No Award
- 2003 - Emily Greensburg
- 2002 - Joyce Demmitt / Mary Mallery / Maurice Travillian
- 2001 - Lillie J. Dyson / Norma Hill / Suzanne Hill
- 2000 - Kenna Forsyth
- 1999 - Paul McAdam
- 1998 - William Gordon
- 1997 - Agnes Griffen / Jean-Barry Molz / Charles Robinson
- 1996 - Frances McClure / Lance Finney
- 1995 - Ed Hall * / Kitty Hurrey
- 1994 - Martha Makowsky
- 1993 - The Honorable Paul Sarbanes
- 1992 - John N. Zaidel
- 1991 - No Award
- 1990 - Thomas E. Strader
- 1989 - No Award
- 1988 - Nettie B. Taylor
- 1987 - Jane K. Hirsch *
- 1986 - Nancy A. Maier
- 1985 - Jeanette Dutcher / Grace Slocum / Estelle B. Williamson*
- 1984 - Marion Satterthwaite * / John J. Zimmerman
- 1983 - No Award
- 1982 - No Award
- 1981 - No Award
- 1980 - Robert E. Greenfield*
- 1979 - Norman Finkler / Stella Loeffler
- 1978 - Roenna Fahney*
- 1977 - No Award
- 1976 - Edwin Castagna* / Virginia Phillips
- 1975 - Estelle B. Gutberlet * / Evelyn Levy *
- 1974 - No Award
- 1973 - No Award
- 1972 - Dorothy W. Reeder * / Mae Graham *
- 1971 - No Award
- 1970 - No Award
- 1969 - Margaret A. Edwards * / George B. Moreland *
- 1968 - No Award
- 1967 - No Award
- 1966 - Beulah M. Davis *
- 1965 - No Award
- 1964 - No Award
- 1963 - No Award
- 1962 - Mary G. Walsh *
- 1961 - Louise C. Ferguson * / Marion E. Hawes *
- 1960 - Helen M. Clark *
- 1959 - Mary N. Barton *
- 1958 - Helen C. Ditman * / Bessie C. Stern *
- 1957 - Amy Winslow *
- 1956 - No Award
- 1955 - Gerald W. Johnson * / Mary O. Odell *
- 1954 - Eleanor Falley *
- 1953 - Mrs. H. Ross Coppage * / Joseph L. Wheeler *
- 1952 - No Award
- 1951 - Mrs. Walter H. Davis * / E. E. Enlow * / Emerson Greenaway *
- 1950 - Mrs. Howard C. Davidson *
- 1949 - Walter H. Davis * / Thomas G. Pullen *
- Life Member - Robert Pierson
* Deceased